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Presentation on theme: "American Government and Politics Today"— Presentation transcript:

2 Who Can Become President?Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution sets forth the qualifications to be presidentThe two major limitations are age (a minimum of 35) and natural-born citizenship (thus eliminating naturalized citizens)

3 The Process of Becoming PresidentNomination by one of the two major partiesMajority of the votes cast in the Electoral CollegeThe electors are decided in most states on a winner-take-all systemThus, it is possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote but still win an election, as was the case in 2000If no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes, the House will elect the president by voting state by state for a candidate

4 The Many Roles of the PresidentHead of StateChief ExecutiveThe powers of appointment and removalThe powers to grant reprieves and pardons

6 The Many Roles of the President (continued)Commander-in-ChiefWartime powersThe War Powers ResolutionChief DiplomatDiplomatic recognitionProposal and ratification of treatiesExecutive agreements

7 The Many Roles of the President (continued)Chief LegislatorGetting legislation passedSaying no to legislationThe line-item vetoPower of Congress to override presidential vetoesOther presidential powersStatutory powers: those that Congress has bestowed on the president by statuteInherent powers: those that the head of government needs to fulfill assigned duties, as prescribed vaguely in the Constitution

8 The President as Party Chief and “Superpolitician”The president as Chief of PartyThe president’s power to persuadeConstituencies and public approvalPresidential constituenciesPublic approvalGeorge W. Bush and the public opinion polls“Going public”

10 The Special Uses of Presidential PowerEmergency powersExecutive ordersTo implement and give administrative effect to Constitutional provisions, treaties, and statutesPrinted, along with rules and regulations, by the Federal RegisterExecutive privilegeLimiting executive privilege - United States v. NixonClinton’s attempted use of executive privilege

11 Abuses of Executive Power and ImpeachmentArticle I, Section 2, gives the House the sole power of impeachmentIf a majority of House members vote to impeach an officer of the United States, the Senate will conduct a trialIf two-thirds of the Senators vote for conviction, the officer is removed from officeTwo presidents have been impeachedNeither were convicted

12 The Executive OrganizationThe CabinetMembers of the cabinet (and the kitchen cabinet)Presidential use of cabinetsThe executive office of the presidentThe White House officeThe Office of Management and BudgetThe National Security Council

15 Questions for Critical ThinkingHow has the presidency evolved from the time of George Washington to the time of George W. Bush?Who develops policy within the executive branch?

16 Questions for Critical ThinkingWhat has happened to the power of the presidency in this century? How did the New Deal impact the presidency? How has the role of government changed with the role of the president?How has Congress tried to protect the balance of power?